Bale tensioning structure



H. A. RAAB BALE TENSIONING STRUCTURE Original Filed Aug. 7, 1962 Oct.19, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

HILARY A. AA

ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1965 H. A. RAAB BALE TENSIONING STRUCTURE OriginalFiled Aug. 7; 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I I (u N I -LJ INVENTOR.

MW ATTO NEY United States Patent 3,212,434 BALE TENSIONING STRUCTUREHilary A. Raab, Hammond, Ind., assignor to East Chicago Machine ToolCorporation, East Chicago, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Continuationof application Ser. No. 215,391, Aug. 7, 1962. This application June 15,1964, Ser. No. 376,610 14 Claims. (Cl. 100-192) The subject applicationis a continuation of my application Serial No. 215,391, filed August 7,1962, now adandoned.

The subject invention relates generally to baling equipment and moreparticularly is directed to an apparatus or system comprising aplurality of assemblies or units which are operatively associated in aunique manner whereby to automatically form bales of uniform size andmaximum density.

The equipment is preferably employed to bale material such as scrappaper, including, for example, box and corrugated board, newspapers,magazines, books, and the like, but may be utilized to bale any othersuitable material or product.

An object of the invention is to provide a baler embodying improvedprinciples of design and construction. More specifically in thisrespect, an object is to provide a baler comprising, among other things,movable walls forming a chamber and means including torsion rods or barsoperatively connecting the walls, as distinguished from the sprocket andchain mechanism disclosed in my copending application, Serial No.339,068, filed January 13, 1964. The broader aspects of the operativerelationship between the relatively movable walls of the baler apparatusare disclosed in the aforesaid copending application.

A significant object of the invention is to provide a baler with anelongate chamber for receiving the material to be compressed to form amass or bale, including means preferably in the form of one or morerelatively movable walls or members which are operatively connected bytorsion rods in a unique manner for applying radial pressure to the massin order to retard the normal forward travel of the mass while it is inthe process of being formed. The arrangement is such that pressure isalso applied to a mass or bale which has previously been formed so thatthe latter affords a resilient movable abutment for the mass or balebeing formed. In other words, the resistance offered by the formed baleis suflicient for a ram to properly and efficiently form a new bale ofsubstantially uniform compactness.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unique setup whereby thetorsion rods in combination with the movable walls and the densitycontrol mechanism serve to automatically relieve, compensate or adjustthe pressure applied to the mass being baled and forced through thebaler.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a baler in which theelongate chamber includes a pair of side walls and a bottom wall orplatform, with means including rods for imparting relative movement tothe side walls to apply pressure to the mass during its formation andmovement to the bottom wall to augment the pressure exerted by the sidewalls.

A significant object of the invention is to provide a baler comprising aframe, an elongate chamber provided with an opening adjacent one endthereof for receiving material to be compressed, means for forciblymoving the material longitudinally in the chamber to compress it as itis introduced thereto through the opening, novel means including torsionrods for applying a radial pressure to the material while it is beingformed into a bale and offering resistance to its movement, and meansop- ICC eratively connecting said moving means and said pressureapplying means in a manner whereby the latter controls the force exertedby the former.

A particularly important object of the invention is to provide a balerof the character above described in which the torsion rods or membersserve to operatively connect the movable bottom wall of the elongatechamber with the movable side wall structures whereby to produceadvantages and promote efiiciency over the disclosure in my copendingapplication.

Other objects reside in providing a machine or apparatus which offersadvantages with respect to manufacture and assembly, adjustability,installation, durability, safety and low cost of maintenance.

Many other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentafter the description hereinafter set forth is considered in conjunctionwith the drawings annexed hereto.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the baler structure with portions insection, including a tied bale and one in the process of being formed;

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic view depicting certain means employed tooperate the ram, including controls therefor;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view of part of the baler structureexemplifying certain details thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a partial side elevation of the baler, with portions insection illustrating details of the mechanism operatively connectingmovable walls of a baling chamber;

FIGURE 5 is a partial vertical section taken substantially on line 5-5of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a partial horizontal section taken substantially on line 66of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a partial vertical section taken substantially on line 77 ofFIGURE 4.

The baler may be designed and constructed in various ways but asexemplified in the drawings, it is made elongate and constructed fromrelatively strong and heavy material to provide, among other things, abase having side walls 1 and suitable framework for supporting theoperating components of the baler.

One extremity of the baler is preferably constructed to provide ahousing 2 for means employed to operate or move a head 3 of a ram in oneend of an elongate chamber to compact the material as it is introducedto the chamber from a chute 4 through an entrance opening 5. The chambermay be referred to as including a first or baling chamber 6 in which theram head reciprocates to pack the received material and an elongatesecond or bale forming chamber 7 in which the mass of material isprimarily formed or shaped into a bale. The machine is provided withsuitable controls located in the housing 2 for controlling the operatingmeans for the ram means, a cabinet 8 for additional controls, a devicegenerally designated 9 assisting to measure the length of a bale beingformed, and an actuating or hydraulic unit designated 10, all of whichwill be described subsequently.

The first baling chamber 6 is directly below the chute and is defined bya pair of opposed stationary walls 11, a bottom wall 12, the ram headand the inner end of a mass of material 13 being compressed. The formingor second chamber constitutes a continuation of the chamber 6 so thatthis material is compacted and moved longitudinally through thechambers.

The forming or baling chamber is elongate and preferably includes astationary bottom Wall constituting a continuation of the bottom wall 12of the chamber 6, a wall or tiltable platform 14 pivotally mounted atits inner end to the frame, a stationary top wall 15, and a pair ofcorresponding relatively movable side wall structures or units generallydesignated 16. The top wall 15 extends between the side wall structures16 and is supported on a pair of inner pillars 17 and on a pair of outerpillars 18. The pillars are carried by the side walls 1 of the base. Itwill be noted that the free end of the tiltable platform 14 isdownturned at 19, as depicted in FIGURE 4. The free end of the top wallis provided with an upturned portion (not shown) which enables the upperportion of the bale to freely leave the top wall without tearing suchportion and the downturned portion 19 is so disposed in relation to theupturned portion that the lower portion of the bale leaves the platformin advance of the upper portion to release the pressure at the upperportion and thereby provide a well shaped bale of uniform cross-section.

Each of the side wall structure is fabricated and preferably includes aplurality of four elongate horizontal resiliently flexible pressureelements or members 20 connected together in parallel relationship by avertical fore end member 21 and a vertical plate 22. The end members 21are preferably anchored to the pillars 17 by bolts 23 or equivalentmeans. The side wall structures comprised of the pressure elements arepreferably operated by upright arms or levers 24. The upper extremitiesof the arms are preferably inturned and respectively pivotally connectedat 25 to the upper ends of pairs of vertical members 26 in a mannerwhereby each of the wall structures can be moved relatively toward oraway from one another and/ or flexed to apply radial pressure to themass of material as it is being formed and moved in the chamher. Theupper ends of the members 26 are preferably welded to the top wall 15and to a reenforcing structure 15' thereon and their lower ends to theside walls 1 of the base to impart stability to the framework. It willbe noted that the arms are disposed longitudinally between the members.The arms 24 are preferably located no more than two-thirds of a balelength from the end of the ram stroke. The radial pressures may bevaried to regulate the amount of frictional resistance between the massand the side wall structures. These factors are important and will bedescribed more in detail subsequently.

As best illustrated in FIGURE 4, the baler is provided with a stationaryplanar bottom cross brace 27 secured to the base side walls 1 below theouter extremity of the tiltable platform 14. The tiltable platform 14 isreinforced by a pair of parallel cross-members or supports 28 secured toits underside adjacent the downturned portion 19. The fore extremity ofthe platform is pivotally mounted on an axle 29, the latter beingjournalled or supported in the side walls 1 of the base. The platform isprovided with downturned side flanges 30 which are guided by thewalls 1. The cross-members 28 are disposed for connection with orsupport on a piston 31 constituting a part of the hydraulic unit 10, thelatter being mounted on a base 32 secured to the brace 27. The pistonserves to raise and lower the platform.

The mode of operatively connecting the platform with the arms 24 willnow be described. As clearly shown in FIGURES 3 through 7, the sidewalls 1 of the base are provided with a first pair of stationarybrackets 33 having holes therein which pivotally receive the rear endsof a pair of torsion rods 34 and with a second pair of stationarybrackets 35 which pivotally receive the fore ends of the rods 34. Thepairs of brackets which journal the rods in parallel relation arepreferably welded to inner surfaces of the side walls 1 and are spacedlongitudinally. It will be observed that the brackets 33 are disposedrearwardly and below the cross-members 28 on the platform 14 and thatthe brackets 35 are preferably located forwardly and below the axle 29for the platform as well as forwardly of the arms 24.

A sleeve 36 is fixed on the rear end of each of the rods 34 and providedwith a pair of spaced lateral horizontal projections 37. If founddesirable, members in lieu of the sleeves can be fixed to the rods andjournalled on the brackets or such members can be journalled on stubshafts carried by the brackets. A pin 38 is carried by each pair of theprojections 37 and a pair of pins 39 are carried by the cross-members28. A link 40 con nects each of the pins 38 with each of the pins 39 toprovide a pair of operative connections between the platform and therods 34. A sleeve 41, similar to the sleeve 36, is fixed on the fore endof each of the rods 34 and provided with a pair of spaced dependingprojections 42 (see FIGURES 3 and 5). A pin 43 is carried by each pairof projections 42 and a pin 44 is carried by a pair of offsets 45provided on each of the lower ends of the arms 24. A link 46 extendsthrough a clearance opening 47 provided in each of the side walls 1 andconnects with an adjacent pair of pins 43 and 44 to obtain a pair ofoperative connections between the arms 24 and the fore ends of thetorsion rods or bars. The ends of the links 40 and 46 are preferablyrespectively connected to the pins 38 and 43 in order to afford properadjustments of the connections between the rods and platform and betweenthe rods and platform and between the rods and the arms. Moreparticularly in this regard, the links 40 extend freely upwardly throughthe pins 39 and are provided with socket ends, to which access may behad through openings 14 provided in the tiltable wall 14, formanipulation by a tool to adjust the threaded lower ends of the links inthe pins 38. The links 46 extend freely through the pins 44 and havesocket outer ends for engagement by a tool to adjust the threaded innerends of the links in the pins 43. Obviously, means other than thatdisclosed may be employed in obtaining adjustments between the variouscomponents of the structure.

In view of the foregoing, it should be manifest that when the piston 31is reciprocated the side wall structures 16 will be caused to movetoward and away from one another through the connections afforded by thetorsion rods or bars 34. More particularly in this respect, when thepiston, for example, is raised to elevate the platform 14, the rods 43through the intermediation of the vertically disposed links 40connecting the cross-members 28 and sleeves 36 will effect rotation ofthe rods in the brackets 33 and 35 and thereby pull or direct the arms24 and side wall structures 16 toward one another through the agency ofthe horizontally disposed links 46. The rods may also twist depending onthe pressures exerted when a bale is being formed. The arms, as statedabove, are pivotally connected to the reenforcing structure 26 so thatwhen the lower extremities of the arms are moved toward one another theywill force the side wall structures inwardly to increase the frictionalresistance against the mass being compacted and forced rearwardly ontothe platform. Thus, the pull or forces applied to the arms increases asthe piston rises.

It will be observed in FIGURE 5 that inner portions of the arms 24 arepreferably inclined with respect to the vertical to provide elongate camsurfaces 48 whereby, for example, movement of the arms toward oneanother will cause the upper ends of the vertical plates 22 secured tothe pressure members 26 to first receive pressure from the arms toeffect inward movement of the uppermost pairs of the members 20 slightlyin advance of the pairs of the lowermost members. In this way the sidewall structures are gradually cammed or forced inwardly and graduallyreversely released when the lower extremities of the arms are movedoutwardly.

It will also be manifest that as the density of the bale 13 increasesthe pressure exerted by the arms will become firmer. This results incausing the bale to expand in cross-section, thereby pressing it harderagainst the side wall structures 16, which in turn, causes thesestructures to move outwardly against the pressure arms. If the pressuresexerted against the arms 24 are greater than the pre-stressing in therods 34, the arms will move outwardly increasing the stress on the rods.By allowing the arms to move outward through the twisting of the torsionrods, the danger of bending the arms by overstressing is eliminated.During this action the extra load is transferred to the hydraulic unitin advance of the travel of the bale mass 13 onto the platform 14,thereby assuring a downward pressure on the piston 31. If the unit 10 isbeing unloaded by a valve 49, as shown in FIGURE 2, sufficient forceagainst the piston will assure its downward motion independent of aformed and tied bale 50 as shown in FIGURE 1.

As the mass 13 of material being formed into a bale advances to theposition of bale 50 (the latter having been forced out of the baler) thepiston will be forced downwardly due to the excess of hydraulic thrustdemand, thereby moving the rods to distress them to reduce the pressureexerted by the arms 24 against the side wall structures 16 and lessenthe pressure against the bale mass.

Although the pressure of the arms 24 against the side wall structure 16against the bale mass 13 can increase or decrease by the raising orlowering of the piston because of the reactive force transfer throughthe torsion rods, there is always a preset converging pressure appliedto the mass through the agency of the wall structures and arms. This ismanually set by adjusting the links 40 and 46. These adjustments willvary with different materials to be baled and given bale densityrequirements where the density varies extremely such as paper comparedto rock wool as compared to metal foil.

Within practicable limits of compaction the organization affords aunique setup for controlling the density of various grades of material,so that one bale after another can be baled without making any manualadjustments. Otherwise expressed, a corrugated board can be baled,followed by a mass of newsprint, boxwood, etc.

The side wall structures are normally disposed in a converging relationand the platform inclined upwardly so that they apply radial pressurefrom three directions tending to constrain, with practicable limits, theforward movement of a formed bale 50 and the mass 13 being formed. Theorganization is preferably such that the radial pressures applied to theformed bale and mass will create sufficient frictional resistance tocause the ram, through the agency of the unit 10, to increase the forceexerted by the ram. When this occurs, the platform will be caused totilt downwardly and the side wall structures outwardly to relievesuchpressures. Provision is made for causing rapid short forward strokes ofthe ram after it advances to a predetermined pressure operating positionin the chamber 6. With this unique organization a maximum balingpressure is maintained to produce bales of uniform compactnessregardless of any variance in the density and the weight of the materialbeing compressed.

The density of the bale is dependent in part on the applied pressure ofthe ram against that part of a bale already formed and held byconstriction and frictional resistance, the uniformity of the materialbeing formed, and the completeness of each charge of material fed to ithe chamber 6.

In order to obtain a better understanding of this setup and thestructures above referred to, other components of the machine will nowbe described in conjunction therewith. As disclosed in my copendingapplication, an electric eye 51 is mounted on the feed chute 4 to insurethat the chamber receives a complete charge for each stroke of the ramand a bale locking device designated 52 is mounted on the baler adjacentthe chambers 6 and 7 for automatically keeping the compressed materialunder compression when the ram is retracted. The eye 51 controls theautomatic operation of the baler so that the ram will not act unlessthere is sufiicient material available for baling. In other words, whenthe material builds or stacks up in the chamber 6 and in the chute 4 toa height or level with the eye, the eye initiates the movement of acontrol for the hydraulic operating means to cause the ram to moveforwardly and this procedure continues as long as there is present asufficient column of material. If the material flows to the baler at arate faster than the baler can accommodate it, then another electric eye53 on the chute 4, located above the eye 51, becomes effective to rendera feeder (not shown) inoperative and operate a valve mechanism inreceivers (not shown) to close the latter so that no material can beintroduced thereto for conveyance to the baler. The eye 53 also servesto energize visual and audible signals and, if desired, valves fordiverting the flow of material to various locations, including otherauxiliary equipment.

The bale locking device 52, above referred to, includes a spring pressedpivotal lever or latch 54 which is adapted to be pivoted upwardly byeach charge of material as it is compressed forwardly by the ram andthen springs back to a normal operative position to engage and hold thecompacted mass in place as the ram is retracted. This mass is preferablyheld at a predetermined location with its rear portion disposed betweenthe upright and members 21 of the side wall structures and adjacentportions of the walls 11, 12 and 15 in order to seal off the chamber 6from the chamber 7. Otherwise expressed, these walls define an internalperipheral bearing surface which is intimately engaged by the mass forsealing purposes. As the material travels down the chute, a certainamount of air is entrained in the chamber 6. When the ram advances, itvalves off the chute and material collects above it and when reversed avoid, the size of the ram head, is left for the material to enter.Attention is directed to the fact that the latch 54 projects through anaperture therefor in the top wall 15 and this aperture is of a size toclosely receive the latch and thereby substantially prevent the escapeof dust from the chamber. As alluded to above, the device 9 assists inautomatically measuring the length of a bale being formed in order toeliminate the human error and other influences. This device isoperatively connected to an automatic electrical counter 55 and anelectrical control circuit which is not disclosed. By presetting thecounter 55, a given distance can be counted by serrated discs 56engaging the bale and when the predetermined number of counts has beenreached an electrical impulse is delivered to a control circuit to causethe hydraulic operating means for the ram to move the ram head to apredetermined fixed forward position at rest, as indicated at 57 inFIGURE 2, which position is in advance of its normal operating stroke asindicated at 58 so that slots (not shown) in the head are exposed inorder that bale ties can be readily inserted into the slots through thespaces between the pressure elements 20.

When the ram is in the forward fixed position 57, a mechanism carried bythe ram trips a switch 59 to establish an electrical circuit that isutilized for operating a visual signal 60, an audible signal 61 on thebaler, and energizing a signal (not shown) which may be located at adesirable remote area to notify the operator as to the condition of thebaler. Also, this circuit can operate any auxiliary equipment desired.The ram operating means cannot function until a manual control button 62is actuated to energize a control circuit to reactivate the operatingmeans so that the ram will again operate normally. The circuitry justreferred to is not disclosed in the drawings.

The hydraulic system will now be described. The purpose of this systemis to provide fluid power to a compression ram with suflicient thrustand at such speeds as to develop the desired results for the balingoperation.

A motor drives a vane type pump which sucks fluid from a storage tank 63or reservoir and through a filter. Fluid passing through the pump isdelivered to a pipe or line connected to a volume control valve and onto an open port of a four-way valve 64. The fluid is expelled throughthe port and then flows through a line to a heat exchanger and back tothe storage tank or reservoir 63. If the volume of fluid being pumped isgreater than the capacity of the heat exchanger, the excess fluid, whichdevelops a pressure in a line connected therewith, is greater than thespring setting of a check valve, the latter opens and bypasses the fluidto the storage tank 63. The motor, filter, ports, lines, and exchangerare not shown in the drawings.

When the light beam of the electric eye 51 is broken, a conductor 65carries a signal to a series of relays 66 in the control cabinet 8 whichactuate a solenoid of the valve 64 causing the valve to shift so thatthe fluid will be forced by the pump through a port of this valve and aline connected thereto. The fluid flows from the last mentioned linethrough a check valve to the cap end of a cylinder 67, which operatesthe ram 3 forward. When pressure builds up in the aforesaid line againsta valve and in cylinder 67 fluid will flow through a pilot line to openthe last mentioned valve. Fluid then flows through this latter valve andthrough a pulsating booster and a connecting line. The booster developshigh impact pressure creating rapid interrupted strokes to the ram asabove referred to. The solenoid, all of the valves, ports, lines andbooster are not disclosed in the drawings.

A drain line operatively connects the booster to the storage tank. Arelief valve is connected by a line to another line as a safety factorto maintain a predetermined maximum pressure in the cylinder 67, suchpressure being indicated on a gauge. A drain line connects the reliefvalve with the storage tank. Certain of the line, relief valve andgauges are not shown.

Pressure in the system also causes fluid to flow through a lineoperatively connected to a check valve 69. Fluid will flow from thecheck valve 69 through a metering valve 70. The fluid flows from theValve 70 through a line to a relief valve and a drain line connects thisvalve with the tank 63. A pressure gauge indicates pressure in the linebetween the valve 7 and relief valve, and such pressure forces fluid toflow through a line 71 to the hydraulic unit 10 to effect movement ofpiston 31 thereby raising the tiltable platform 14 and relative movementbetween the side wall structures 16. A drain line connects the unit 10with the tank. A drain line connects the fourway valve 64 with the tankand a high pressure pilot line 72 is connected to the adjustableunloading valve 49.

The arrangement is preferably such that if frictional resistance on thebale 50 and the mass 13 as developed by the constricting movement of theside wall structures 16 and platform 14 exceeds the desired balingpressure as preset by the valve 49, such pressure will be relieved byfluid flow through a line 73, through a metering valve 7 4 which has aflow rate proportional to the flow through the valve 70, and theunloading valve 49 and back to storage tank through line 68. Thisorganization is considered to be unique and constitutes a meritoriousadvance in the art of baling.

When the ram 3 reaches its normal forward operating position themechanism carried by the ram, as alluded to above, actuates a switch 75to energize through conductors a series of relays in the control cabinet8 which actuates the solenoid of the four-way valve 64 causing the valveto shift so that the fluid will be forced by the pump through a port ofthis valve, and through a line 76 to the rod end of the cylinder 67which retracts the ram 3. A pilot line connects the line 76 with aneedle valve and this valve is connected to a preset relief valve whichgoverns pilot line pressure available to a check valve through a line sothat this valve will open relieving the pressure at the cap end of thecylinder 67. A drain line connects the relief valve with the tank 63.

In view of the foregoing, and assuming that the hydraulic pump is inoperation and a control switch is set in an automatic position, the ramwill continue to retract and as it comes to a stop another switch isactuated to interrupt the flow of current to the solenoid of the valve64, thereby preventing further fluid flow to cylinder 67. Whenever thecontrol switch is in any position but an automatic position and saidswitch is turned to this position, the ram of hydraulic cylinder 67 willalways retract.

When the electric eye 51 is operated by interrupting the light beam, aholding circuit is established to assure continuance of the ram stroketo its entirety even if the eye becomes deenergized during the forwardstroke of the ram. Upon completion of the forward stroke, the solenoidof the four-way valve 64 is energized to shift the valve, allowinghydraulic fluid to flow to the rod end of cylinder 67, thereby returningthe ram. When the ram advances to a predetermined distance in the balingchamber 6, the switch 75 is actuated to break the holding circuit, whichactuates valve 64 and momentarily stops hydraulic fluid flow to cylinder67. At the same time, the solenoid of the valve 64 is energized, thisvalve shifts, allowing hydraulic fiuid flow to be directed to the rodend of cylinder 67 thereby retracting the ram 3.

When the ram advances the bale in the second or elongate bale chamber 7of the baler, a switch in the device 9 is operated, causing current flowfrom counter 55 to this switch and electric pulsations, created by themaking and breaking of contacts in this switch, are recorded by thecounter. When the predetermined bale length has been reached, asdetemined by this counter, the ram, regardless of its position, willadvance toward the predetermined fixed position 57. As the ram reachesits full stroke forward to this predetermined fixed position thesolenoid of the valve 64 will shift this valve and thereby stop fluidflow to cylinder 67 and prevent ram movement. With the ram in thisforward fixed position, the bale can be tied in a conventional manner.

To return the ram 3 to automatic operation, the switch 62 is manuallyactuated to cause current to flow from this switch to a relay of thecounter 55, energizing and resetting its mechanism for remeasuring thenext bale; also interrupting curent flow to the coil of another relay.reestablishing the normal reversing circuit. As the ram reverses, theswitch 59 deenergizes the coil of a relay to cause its contacts toreturn to a normally off position and deenergize signals 60 and 61.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that variousmodifications may be made in the same without departing from the spiritof the invention, and, therefor, I do not wish to be understood aslimiting myself to the exact forms, constructions, arrangements, andcombinations of parts herein shown and described.

I claim:

1. A baler comprising a frame, an elongate chamber having a top wall, apair of relatively movable side wall structures, a lower pressureresponsive wall, rod means journaled in said frame and extendinglongitudinally below said responsive wall, and means operativelyconnecting paid rod means with said responsive wall and said wallstructures, said rod means being twistable about its axis for impartingrelative movement to said wall structures when pressure is applied tosaid responsive wall.

2. The baler defined in claim 1, including means for adjusting the twistof said rod means.

3. A baler comprising a frame, a chamber having a top wall, a pair ofrelatively movable side walls and a pressure responsive bottom wall,pivot means pivotally connecting said bottom wall to said frame, a pairof vertically disposed arms having upper ends pivotally connectedadjacent said top wall and lower ends disposed below said side walls,and rod means journaled on said frame operatively connecting said bottomwall and said lower ends of said arms, said rod means being twistableabout its axis in a manner whereby when pressure is applied downwardlyagainst said bottom wall said arms will be pivoted to simultaneouslyeffect outward movement of said side walls.

4. The baler defined in claim 3, in which said vertically disposed armsare respectively provided with inner cam surfaces which serve togradually vary pressure applied to said side walls when said arms aremoved toward and away from one another.

5. The baler defined in claim 3, in which each of said side wallsincludes a plurality of vertically spaced longitudinally extendingmembers connected together by a plate, and said vertically disposed armsare respectively provided with inner cam surfaces for engaging saidplates for applying pressure thereto whereby certain of the members ofeach wall may be caused to move toward one another in advance of othermembers of each wall.

6. The baler defined in claim 5, in which said pressure responsivebottom wall is provided with a pair of openings through which means maybe extended for adjusting said second pair of links.

7. The baler defined in claim 5, in which said frame includes a basehaving a pair of spaced side walls provided with openings through whichsaid first pair of links respectively extend laterally and areadjustably connected with said lower ends of said upstanding members.

8. A baler comprising a frame, a chamber having a top wall, a pair ofrelatively movable side walls and a pressure responsive bottom wall,pivot means pivotally connecting said bottom wall to said frame,pressure means disposed under said bottom Wall for applying pressurethereto to pivot the same, a pair of vertically disposed arms havingupper ends pivotally connected adjacent said top wall and lower endsdisposed below said side walls, and a pair of torsion rod means havingopposite ends journaled on said frame extending longitudinally thereofand operatively connecting said bottom wall and said lower ends of saidarms in a manner whereby when pressure is applied upwardly against saidbottom wall by said pressure means said arms, through the agency of saidrod means will be pivoted to simultaneously effect inward movement ofsaid side walls.

9. A baler comprising a frame, a chamber having a top Wall, a pair ofrelatively movable side walls and a pressure responsive bottom wall, apair of upstanding movable members for applying pressure to said sidewalls, said members having upper ends connected to said frame and lowerends, a pair of torsion rods having inner ends and outer ends, a firstpair of links respectively operatively connecting the inner ends of saidrods with the lower ends of said members, and a second pair of linksoperatively connecting the outer ends of said rods with said bottom wallin a manner whereby when pressure is applied to move said bottom wallsaid side walls will be caused to move relative to one another.

10. A baler comprising a frame, a chamber having an entrance and anoutlet, said chamber being formed by a top wall, a pair of relativelymovable side walls normally converging toward said outlet, pressureresponsive means, and means including a pair torsion rods having theirends journaled on said frame and extending lengthwise of said chamberoperatively connecting said responsive means and said side walls wherebythe latter coactively move and offer resistance to radial pressuresexerted by material adapted to be forced through said chamber.

11. A baler comprising a frame, an elongate openended chamber having astationary top wall, a stationary bottom wall, a pressure responsivetiltable wall constituting a continuation of said bottom wall, a pair ofrelatively movable side wall structures extending below said top walland beyond said bottom wall in overhead relation to said tiltable wall,means for moving said side wall structures, and means including a pairof rods having their ends journaled on said frame and extendinglongitudinally thereof operatively connecting said tiltable wall andsaid moving means in a manner whereby when pressure is applied to movesaid tiltable wall said moving means will transmit movement to said sidewalls.

12. A baler comprising a frame and a first chamber provided with anopening for receiving material to be baled, a second chamberconstituting a continuation of said first chamber, said second chamberbeing elongate and comprising a bottom stationary wall, a tiltableplatform constituting a continuation of said bottom wall and having anouter portion normally disposed above the level thereof for depressionby compressed material adapted for travel through said second chamber, atop wall extending substantially coextensively with and over said bottomwall and platform, a pair of relatively movable elongate resilientlyfiexible side wall structures hav ing inner extremities secured to saidframe at a location adjacent said first chamber and also having outerfree extremities terminating above said platform, a pair of uprightmembers having upper ends pivotally connected to said frame and lowerends disposed below said bottom wall, and means including a pair of rodshaving opposite end journaled on said frame and extending longitudinallythereof operatively connecting said outer portion of said platform withsaid lower ends of said members in a manner whereby when pressure isapplied to move said platform said side Wall structures will besimultaneously moved through the agency of said members.

13. A baler comprising a frame, a plurality of elongate relativelymovable walls defining an elongate baling chamber, elongate torsion rodshaving opposite ends journaled on said frame lengthwise of said chamber,and means operatively connecting certain of said walls and said torsionrods in a manner whereby to eflect substantially simultaneous movementbetween said certain walls when material of varying density is forcedthrough the chamber.

14. A baler comprising a frame provided with a top wall, a pair ofrelatively movable side walls and a bottom wall having a movablecontinuation, said walls and continuation forming an elongate chamber,said side walls and said continuation serving to apply radial pressuresto a mass of material adapted to be forced through the chamber, andmeans including a pair of rods having opposite ends journaled on saidframe and operatively connecting said side walls and said continuation,variable power means for actuating said continuation to effect movementof said side walls through said connecting means, the arrangement beingsuch that said rods will automatically vary the radial pressures appliedto the mass as it is forced through said chamber.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,631,881 6/27Murray -191 2,823,603 2/58 Collins. 3,090,182 5/63 Johnson et a1 100-191X WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS O. MAASSEL, Examiner.

1. A BALER COMPRISING A FRAME, AN ELONGATE CHAMBER HAVING A TOP WALL, APAIR OF RELATIVELY MOVABLE SIDE WALL STRUCTURES, A LOWER PRESSURERESPONSIVE WALL, ROD MEANS JOURNALED IN SAID FRAME AND EXTENDINGLONGITUDINALLY BELOW SAID RESPONSIVE WALL, AND MEANS OPERATIVELYCONNECTING PAID ROD MEANS WITH SAID RESPONSIVE WALL AND SAID WALLSTRUCTURES, SAID ROD MEANS BEING TWISTABLE ABOUT ITS AXIS FOR IMPARTINGRELATIVE MOVEMENT TO SAID WALL STRUCTURES WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TOSAID RESPONSIVE WALL.